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Halep roars back against Svitolina to reach semi-finals

Halep roars back against Svitolina to reach semi-finals

By REUTERS

Romania's Simona Halep in action during her quarter final match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. Photo: Reuters

PARIS: Former French Open runner-up Simona Halep staged a remarkable fightback and saved a match point to reached the semi-finals with a 3-6 7-6(6) 6-0 win over Elina Svitolina on Wednesday. Romanian third seed Halep trailed by a set and 5-1 against the fifth seed but somehow dug herself out of a hole before storming to victory. Ukrainian Svitolina saved four set points at 5-6 in the second and then had a match point in the tiebreak which Halep saved with a brave backhand winner that kissed the sideline. Halep clinched the second set with a forehand winner and swept through the decider as Svitolina's spirit sagged, sealing victory with an ace. Halep will play second-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals, while in the other half of the draw Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko will take on Swiss Timea Bacsinszky. All four players are seeking a first grand slam title.